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Spectros #0
Showdown at Guyamas
In the thrilling first installment in this genre-busting series, Spectros journeys to Mexican mining country to confront the conjurer who kidnapped his bride
A narrow carriage rumbles through the treacherous mountains of Sonora. Inside, surrounded by countless books and pieces of scientific equipment, rides Dr. Spectros—the most brilliant magician of the Old West. For years, he has pursued the fiendish sorcerer Blackschuster, who long ago stole the only woman the doctor ever loved. Spectros has now chased his nemesis to Mexico, where he discovers a town just as rotten as the conjurer who hides there.
Blackschuster has come in search of the silver he requires to keep the bride of Spectros trapped in eternal sleep. With the help of his associates, the gunslinger Ray Featherskill, the knife expert Inkada, and the hulking bruiser Montak, Spectros corners his enemy, but defeating him will take a magic more powerful than any the world has ever seen.
A narrow carriage rumbles through the treacherous mountains of Sonora. Inside, surrounded by countless books and pieces of scientific equipment, rides Dr. Spectros—the most brilliant magician of the Old West. For years, he has pursued the fiendish sorcerer Blackschuster, who long ago stole the only woman the doctor ever loved. Spectros has now chased his nemesis to Mexico, where he discovers a town just as rotten as the conjurer who hides there.
Blackschuster has come in search of the silver he requires to keep the bride of Spectros trapped in eternal sleep. With the help of his associates, the gunslinger Ray Featherskill, the knife expert Inkada, and the hulking bruiser Montak, Spectros corners his enemy, but defeating him will take a magic more powerful than any the world has ever seen.
177 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1978
About the author
Paul Lederer
56 books7 followersPaul Joseph Lederer wrote more than 250 novels, many of them Westerns. He was born in Ocean Beach, CA, attended San Diego State University, served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War, and lived in La Mesa, CA, until he passed away in 2016.
His work can also be found under the names Paul Joseph Lederer, Logan Winters, Owen G. Irons, C. J. Sommers, and Elizabeth Wolfe. In recent years, many of these books have been reprinted as by Paul Lederer.
Lederer wrote most of the adult western series Shelter as Paul Ledd and Ruff Justice as Warren T. Longtree. He also wrote for the Easy Company and Lone Star series.
His work can also be found under the names Paul Joseph Lederer, Logan Winters, Owen G. Irons, C. J. Sommers, and Elizabeth Wolfe. In recent years, many of these books have been reprinted as by Paul Lederer.
Lederer wrote most of the adult western series Shelter as Paul Ledd and Ruff Justice as Warren T. Longtree. He also wrote for the Easy Company and Lone Star series.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 16, 2025
I gotta say, I'm really disappointed here. I've enjoyed Lederer's writing elsewhere, where his Western stories are short and sweet, but this series is just painfully mediocre. Especially considering the arm and a leg that Amazon charges for them. But I managed to plow through them all (mainly because they're all short, barely 100+ pages rounded out by 'free previews') and I'm here to report back.
First off, these books are addicted to the status quo. In fact, they're really quite formulaic. In every book, Dr. Spectros and his Merry Men try to rescue Spectros's kidnapped bride from the evil Blackshuster (?) and his sidekick Wango (???). The action is interspersed with bits of backstory that is usually telling us stuff we already know once the first book is done with, presumably to catch up the reader who doesn't bother to do these in order. There's no real continuity, plot development, or character arcs. Every story features the characters almost managing to take out Blackshuster and rescuing Whatsherface, but Blackshuster Roadrunners away. There's also always a secondary plot about a villain of the week, a girl of the week, and so forth--that's resolved while the larger story remains at a standstill. So don't think you're getting Lost or something where every episode moves the metaplot forward. This is more like Renegade where every episode Lorenzo Lamas takes his shirt off.
Maybe this shouldn't bug me. It's not like any of the James Bond books feature Bond finally realizing his lifelong ambition of tongue-kissing the Queen (note: citation needed). But even as standalones, these are just kinda lame. Ray Featherskill is the handsome white guy of the party, so he almost always gets the girl. Spectros can turn into Kid Soledad, a young and unbeatable gunfighter. Montak is a mute gentle giant (oh bru-ther) and Inkada is an Indian (as in Temple of Doom, not Dances with Wolves). None of them have very much personality or interesting dynamics with each other; I mean, that syndicated version of Magnificent Seven easily leaves this in the dust when it comes to characterization. The evil Blackshuster is no Fu Manchu either: he's not even trying to take over the world, he just wants to get his mitts on a bunch of silver so he can keep his kidnapped princess (yes, she literally is) on ice forever. Once a book, he and Spectros get into a shapeshifter duel. By the end of the series, he's still on the run and Spectros is still trailing after him.
I get that this was one of those series that was just meant to go on and on, but as long as the same writer is tackling every installment, why not do something interesting with it? Have a story that actually progresses instead of just repeating itself over and over again in different locales with different surface details. I don't think there are any other Weird Westerns that were tried on the scale of this project; how can I not be disappointed that it all ended up so milquetoast?
First off, these books are addicted to the status quo. In fact, they're really quite formulaic. In every book, Dr. Spectros and his Merry Men try to rescue Spectros's kidnapped bride from the evil Blackshuster (?) and his sidekick Wango (???). The action is interspersed with bits of backstory that is usually telling us stuff we already know once the first book is done with, presumably to catch up the reader who doesn't bother to do these in order. There's no real continuity, plot development, or character arcs. Every story features the characters almost managing to take out Blackshuster and rescuing Whatsherface, but Blackshuster Roadrunners away. There's also always a secondary plot about a villain of the week, a girl of the week, and so forth--that's resolved while the larger story remains at a standstill. So don't think you're getting Lost or something where every episode moves the metaplot forward. This is more like Renegade where every episode Lorenzo Lamas takes his shirt off.
Maybe this shouldn't bug me. It's not like any of the James Bond books feature Bond finally realizing his lifelong ambition of tongue-kissing the Queen (note: citation needed). But even as standalones, these are just kinda lame. Ray Featherskill is the handsome white guy of the party, so he almost always gets the girl. Spectros can turn into Kid Soledad, a young and unbeatable gunfighter. Montak is a mute gentle giant (oh bru-ther) and Inkada is an Indian (as in Temple of Doom, not Dances with Wolves). None of them have very much personality or interesting dynamics with each other; I mean, that syndicated version of Magnificent Seven easily leaves this in the dust when it comes to characterization. The evil Blackshuster is no Fu Manchu either: he's not even trying to take over the world, he just wants to get his mitts on a bunch of silver so he can keep his kidnapped princess (yes, she literally is) on ice forever. Once a book, he and Spectros get into a shapeshifter duel. By the end of the series, he's still on the run and Spectros is still trailing after him.
I get that this was one of those series that was just meant to go on and on, but as long as the same writer is tackling every installment, why not do something interesting with it? Have a story that actually progresses instead of just repeating itself over and over again in different locales with different surface details. I don't think there are any other Weird Westerns that were tried on the scale of this project; how can I not be disappointed that it all ended up so milquetoast?
February 8, 2023
I'm absolutely disappointed to rate Showdown at Guyamas only 2 stars, but I was totally unable to connect with the author's writing style. The Spectros series seems to be everything I dream of; A traditional western by a veteran author of the genre with touches of occult, magic and mystery. Everything promised is indeed there, but the writing style is so disjointed that it was very difficult for me to comprehend what was happening most of the time. Paul Lederer has written many western under many pseudonyms, and I certainly hope that he change his writing style with each name because I would like to benefit from his voluminous Black Horse Western ouput, but more pressingly, be able to continue reading and enjoying the Spectros series. On the strength of the series premise alone, I will read the second book in the series and probably some of his BHW before cementing my opinion of M. Lederer western offerings.
October 1, 2015
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
A narrow carriage rumbles through the treacherous mountains of Sonora. Inside, surrounded by countless books and pieces of scientific equipment, rides Dr. Spectros—the most brilliant magician of the Old West. For years, he has pursued the fiendish sorcerer Blackschuster, who long ago stole the only woman the doctor ever loved. Spectros has now chased his nemesis to Mexico, where he discovers a town just as rotten as the conjurer who hides there.
Blackschuster has come in search of the silver he requires to keep the bride of Spectros trapped in eternal sleep. With the help of his associates, the gunslinger Ray Featherskill, the knife expert Inkada, and the hulking bruiser Montak, Spectros corners his enemy, but defeating him will take a magic more powerful than any the world has ever seen.
Another surprise book from Paul Lederer. After reading some others of his recently, I was expecting a straight up-and-down western. What I got instead was a genre-busting mash-up that was truly entertaining and encourages me to go looking for more of his books. A mix of supernatural, suspense, action and western really, really works in this story and I am glad the author dared take that chance.
I look forward to reading book 2 of this series in the near future!
Paul
ARH
A narrow carriage rumbles through the treacherous mountains of Sonora. Inside, surrounded by countless books and pieces of scientific equipment, rides Dr. Spectros—the most brilliant magician of the Old West. For years, he has pursued the fiendish sorcerer Blackschuster, who long ago stole the only woman the doctor ever loved. Spectros has now chased his nemesis to Mexico, where he discovers a town just as rotten as the conjurer who hides there.
Blackschuster has come in search of the silver he requires to keep the bride of Spectros trapped in eternal sleep. With the help of his associates, the gunslinger Ray Featherskill, the knife expert Inkada, and the hulking bruiser Montak, Spectros corners his enemy, but defeating him will take a magic more powerful than any the world has ever seen.
Another surprise book from Paul Lederer. After reading some others of his recently, I was expecting a straight up-and-down western. What I got instead was a genre-busting mash-up that was truly entertaining and encourages me to go looking for more of his books. A mix of supernatural, suspense, action and western really, really works in this story and I am glad the author dared take that chance.
I look forward to reading book 2 of this series in the near future!
Paul
ARH
September 11, 2015
Spectros book 1: Showdown at Guyamas
by Paul Lederer
A western with supernatural overtones. Loved it. A spooky, old-fashioned style, western tale. It has everything that makes a western great and then some. Several different threads that weave a tight tapestry of good and evil. There were, gunfights, a lady rancher in distress, a kidnapped bride, a gready land baron, Sheriff Emory who tries to do his job, and the Good Guys and the Bad Guys.
The Good Guys, Dr. Spectros, Featherskill, Inkada, and Montak, were searching for the Doctor's bride, who had been kidnapped on their wedding day. The Bad Guys were Blackschuster, who stole the bride, and his hired man, Wango plus misc. gunfighters and hired hands.
This book appealed to me because of it's supernatural theme. It started out like a western but soon morphed into something else. Dr. Spectros and Blackschuster are not what they appear. The chase to rescue the bride has been going on for a very, very long time. This is a man of honor who, even though he might lose the woman of his dreams, can't let an injustice go unpunished.
I will be getting the rest of these books soon.
Watch for Spectros Book 2: Silverado.
Thank you NetGalley for the free Kindle version.
by Paul Lederer
A western with supernatural overtones. Loved it. A spooky, old-fashioned style, western tale. It has everything that makes a western great and then some. Several different threads that weave a tight tapestry of good and evil. There were, gunfights, a lady rancher in distress, a kidnapped bride, a gready land baron, Sheriff Emory who tries to do his job, and the Good Guys and the Bad Guys.
The Good Guys, Dr. Spectros, Featherskill, Inkada, and Montak, were searching for the Doctor's bride, who had been kidnapped on their wedding day. The Bad Guys were Blackschuster, who stole the bride, and his hired man, Wango plus misc. gunfighters and hired hands.
This book appealed to me because of it's supernatural theme. It started out like a western but soon morphed into something else. Dr. Spectros and Blackschuster are not what they appear. The chase to rescue the bride has been going on for a very, very long time. This is a man of honor who, even though he might lose the woman of his dreams, can't let an injustice go unpunished.
I will be getting the rest of these books soon.
Watch for Spectros Book 2: Silverado.
Thank you NetGalley for the free Kindle version.
May 24, 2016
Showdown at Guyamas (Spectros Book One) by Paul Lederer, writing as Logan Winters is a riveting Western with paranormal touches of magic. I will remember the gunslinger Ray Featherskill, the knife expert Inkada, and the hulking bruiser Montak along with Dr. Spectros & the evil sorcerer Blackshuster for a long time. I gave it five stars.
I really want to read Silverado, (Spectros Book Two) of this series.
I would like to thank Open Road Integrated Media & NetGalley for a complimentary kindle copy of this book. That did not change my opinion for this review.
I really want to read Silverado, (Spectros Book Two) of this series.
I would like to thank Open Road Integrated Media & NetGalley for a complimentary kindle copy of this book. That did not change my opinion for this review.
October 5, 2015
Stories like this are not my cup of tea as I'm a lover of more traditional shoot 'em ups, but I can't say that I didn't like it with all the shootouts and action. I can't take fault with the author because there are many who enjoy this type of writing with fantasy or sci-fi mixed in. I will give it three0-and-a-half stars, but it may be better than that in some readers' opinions.
April 10, 2017
The narrative is well-written and flows smoothly, with all the basic Western tropes, but poor old Doc Spectros is just too honorable to do what's necessary when he has the villain in his talons. You heard right. Talons. There is more to Spectros than meets the eye.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews